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(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

FJBILLINGS & W. R. HINSDALE. PROCESS OF GOMPRESSING FLUID METAL.

No. 333,591. Patented Jan. 5, 1886.

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(No Model.) 2 SheetsSl1eet 2.

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PROGESS 0F GOMPRESSING FLUID METAL.

N0. 333,591.- I Patented Jan. 5, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

FRANK BILLIN GS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, AND \VILLIAM'B. HINSDALE, OF

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THE COMPRESSED STEEL COM- PANY, OFCLEVELAND, OHIO.

PROCESS OF COMPRE SSI NG FLUID METAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 333,591, dated January5, 1886.

Application filed November 8, 1884. Serial No. 147,426. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANK BILLINGS, of

Cleveland, Cuyah oga county, Ohio, and WILL- solid casting in aningot-mold by such a methi od of pressing the same that the confinedgases are effectually expelled from the metal before I the latter isconsolidated.

Our present improvement consists in the method herein described forremoving the gases from fluid metal in an ingot-mold provided with asmall aperture for the escape of 2Q the gas from its upper end, themethod consisting, first, in gently pressing the fluid metal while thegases accumulate in the head of the ingot; secondly, in applying anincreased pressure, rupturing the surface metal of the ingot, anddischarging a portion of the same from its upper end to liberate theconfined gases; and, thirdly, in subjecting the ingot to agreatly-increased pressure after the discharge of the gases toconsolidate the metal.

To secure the best results we maintain the temperature of the fluidmetal at the mouth of the mold for a certain period after pouring, andbefore applying any pressure thereto, so as to secure the removal of thegreater part of 3 5 such gases before any pressureis applied, and

to avoid obstructing the gases in their natural passage from the metal.

'Heretofore it has often been common toapply pressure to the surface ofthe metal as 40 soon as possible after pouring, to avoid that chillingof the metal which would render the pressing operation more or lessdifficult and abortive, and such haste has always resulted in theimprisonment of more or less gas with- 5 in the head of the ingot in theform of bubbles,which have been prevented from escaping by the coveringof the metal s surface by the pressing apparatus.

Our process is based upon the assumption that the application of greatpressure to the fluid metal when first poured unavoidably confines thegases at some point within the ingot, and we therefore employ verylittle pressure when the metal is first confined in the mold, and preferto let it stand in the mold 5 5 unconfined for a short time, with itssurface heat maintained by artificial means, so as to disengage aconsiderable part of the gases beforethe mold is closed to receive thedesired pressure.

iIn subjecting the metal to pressure our process requires a moldprovided with a small central aperture at the top for the escape of theconfined gases at a certain stage of the process; but such apertureperforms a differ- 6 5 ent function from the mere vents often used inmolds, as it is employed partly to cut a section from the chilledsurface of the metal over the point where the gases accumulate, and thuseffects their release, as has been fully set forth in a prior patentapplication of W. R. Hinsdale, N 0. 142,617, filed September 10, 1884.

We find that a mixture of charcoal, rosin, and benzine burning upon thesurface of the metal is effectual in maintaining a fluid or semi-fluidstate of the metal for a sufficient length of time to eliminate a largeproportion of the gases, and the mold may then be closed, as shownherein, and the pressure applied, as described.

A modification of the means claimed by the said Hinsdale is shown in theannexed drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a plan of a pressing apparatusoperated by hydraulic pressure. Fig. 2 is an elevation in section on thecentral line, :0 w, in Fig. l,excepting the standard K and one edge ofthe table. Fig. 3 is a side view, and Fig. 4. abottom view,of the cap d,and Fig. 5 is a top 0 viewof the plate 12.

A is the frame or bed of the machine, made in box form. B is a columnmounted thereon to sustain a turn-table, C, and E is an adjusting-screwmounted in an arch, E, at one edge 5 of the table, in such position thata series of ingot-molds, F, may be sustained in notches C in the edgesof the table, and successively moved under the arch E.

p is a movable plug inserted in the bottom 10o of the mold to transmitthe pressure to the contents from below.

G is a hydraulic cylinder, located upon the bed A, beneath the center ofthe arch. H is its ram, and D is a slide or transmitter fitted in aguide in the edge of the frame to direct the movement of the ram uponthe plug p,and to press the same inward upon the contents of the mold.

J is a standard formed upon the top of the table 0, and a are notches inthe top of the standard to fit a lever, I, pivoted to the center of thetable for turning the same around.

K is a segment, with stop K to govern the movement of the lever to bringthe molds in succession beneath the screw E to receive the pressure. Themetal would be poured, when the mold was located, in the notch O,adjoining that under the arch, and after having its surface heated andthe gases discharged in the manner described above would be movedbeneath the arch by turning the table, the lever being lifted inremoving and applying it to the notches a to turn the table as desired.

P is a plate or plunger applied to the face of I the metal, and having asmall hole, e, formed- A recess, 6, is provided above in its center. thehole to afford an unrestricted discharge for the matter through suchhole when under pressure. Such recess is formed in a hollow cap, d,inverted over the plate P, and adapted to press the same into the mouthof the mold. Holes 0 are provided in the sides of the cap to dischargethe gases projected into the same from the hole 0, and the screw E isadjusted so as to nearly touch the top of the cap when the mold is movedunder the arch to receive the pressure. The hydraulic ram is thenactuated, as by operating the pump N, (shown at the side of thecylinder,) and the plug 10 is pressed against the metal in the lower endof the mold. The pressure is regulated or limited in such manner as notat first to cause any discharge from the top of the mold, the movementof the plug being regulated to merely compensate for the shrinkage ofthe metal while the remainder of the gases are accumulating at orpassing off from the top of the ingot, such upward movement of the gasesbeing greatly promoted by the upward compressing movement of the metalin the lower part of the mold. The pressure is gradually increased atsuch a rate as to prevent the hardening of the fluid metal in contactwith the sides of the mold, and after an interval'of from one to sixminutes, according to the size of the ingot, is applied withconsiderably-increased force to compress the entire contents of the moldand to forcibly expel the accumulated gases from itstop. The hole 6affords an escape for the matter in the center of the mold, and we findin practice that such pressure ruptures the crust formed by the coolingof the surface metal over the gases collected in the head of the ingot,and thus affordsa vent for the gases from their confined situation. Assoon as a little of the surface metal is ejected from above such gasesthe remainder of the gas is entirely discharged from the ingot, and thelatter is ready for the utmost consolidation which can be effected.After the gases are thus fully expelled, the pressure is therefore againmaterially increased and the ingot compressed to the highest degreeattainable with the apparatus employed, and held under such pressure aslong as may be desired during the cooling of the ingot, or untilthelatter is hardened so as to bear the removal of the mold. By applyingthe pressure in such separate stages the resulting product is sound andfree from piping, Without theloss of any metal, except the triflingportion lying directly over the gas-bubble, and which would otherwisehave locked the gases permanently in the head of the ingot.

The construction shown herein for the plate I) differs from that of theplunger described in W. R. Hinsdales application, in having the inclosedrecess e provided above the outlet e, to afford an unrestricteddischarge for the gas or fluid metal therefrom, and in ventilating thesaid recess by the side holes, a, so that the gas might find a freevent, while the fluid metal would strike the top of the cap, and thus beprevented from blowingsidewise,to the detriment of surrounding objects.

We do not, however, make any claim to the particular apparatus herein,but limit ourselves to a particular method of using the same, as thecomplete discharge of the gas and the formation of a solid ingot withoutmuch loss of metal depends very largely upon the degree of pressureapplied to the ingot at the beginning, middle, and close of the pressingoperation. For instance, when the metal is first compressed,considerable gas may be forced out of the metal, if a vent be allowedtherefor, as described in the patent application' of W. R. Hinsdale,referred to above; but if the maximum pressure required to properlyconsolidate the ingot were applied at such time a great quantity of thefluid metal would be ejected with the gas.

We are aware that in French Patent No. 111,807, of 1876, a process hasbeen described for exerting a gaseous pressure upon the fluid metal in aclosed kettle during the disengagement of the gases, and before thedischarge of the metal from such kettle into the ingotmold,where themetal is subjected to a greater pressure by an increase of the gaseouspressure in the kettle and the runner connecting the same with the mold.In such process no plunger is applied to the top of the metal to exert apressure, and no channel in connection with the atmosphere is providedto liberate the gases while the metal is subjected to the initialpressure, but the metal is confined during such pressure in an air-tightkettle.

Our invention therefore differs from such process in first pouring themetal into the mold before the application of pressure; secondly,in

the application of a cap to the surface of the metal; and, thirdly, inmaintaining a connection through an aperture in said cap between theexternal atmosphere and the metal under pressure, so that the gasesdischarged from the metal may find a free vent and not be re tained incontact with the metal.

We therefore disclaim the said patent and any process different fromthat we have described, and we do not claim the apparatus herein shownand described, as W. R. Hinsdale has made the same the subject of acopending patent application, No. 142.617. We therefore disclaim saidapparatus, limiting ourselves to the process herein described, and claimour own invention in the following manner:

lhe method herein described for removing the gases from fluid metal inan ingot-mold 20 provided with a gas-outlet in its upper end,

FRANK BILLINGS. WILLIAM R. HINSDALE.

WVitnesses:

Tnos. S. CRANE, HENRY J. THEBERATH.

